Pediatric application of bioabsorbable polymer stents in infants and children with congenital heart defects

Abstract

Methods of treating congenital heart defects in infants and children with bioabsorbable polymer stents are described. The treatments reduce or eliminate the adverse affects of congenital heart defects or may be palliative.

1 - 11 . (canceled) 
     
     
         12 . A method of treating a congenital heart defect in a human patient comprising:
 identifying a newborn human patient having a complex congenital cardiac malformation; and   deploying a bioabsorbable polymer scaffold in the ductus arteriosis of the patient to maintain patency of the ductus arteriosis,   wherein the patency of the ductus arteriosis allows blood flow to the lungs and the body until the complex congenital cardiac malformation is repaired, and   wherein the scaffold is completely absorbed from the segment after providing the patency for a period of time.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising performing surgical repair of the complex congenital cardiac malformation prior to complete resorption of the scaffold. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the scaffold maintains a radial strength of at least 200 mmHg for at least 6 months. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein prior to deployment, the scaffold is constrained at a reduced diameter by a sheath and is deployed by removing the sheath and allowing the scaffold to self-expand to an increased diameter. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein prior to deployment, the scaffold is constrained at a reduced diameter around a balloon and is deployed by expanding the balloon which expands the stent a target diameter that maintains the patency of the ductus arteriosis. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising implanting an additional bioabsorbable scaffold in the ductus arteriosis after the scaffold initially implanted has partially or completely absorbed. 
     
     
         18 - 26 . (canceled)